AC Milan lifts Serie A title with win over Roma

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Triumphant Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is carried by his players on Sunday as they celebrated winning the league title.Picture:Getty Images

AC Milan won its 17th Italian title as it lifted the Serie A crown for the first time since 1999 with a 1-0 win over second-placed AS Roma on Sunday.

A second-minute header from Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko gave Milan the victory, which leaves it with a nine-point advantage over Roma with only two games remaining.

But there were ugly scenes as the game was interrupted twice in the second half after Roma supporters hurled fireworks and missiles on to the pitch.

First, Milan's Gennaro Gattuso was stunned by a powerful firework that exploded near him after Roma's appeals for a penalty following a handball were controversially turned down.

Then Milan goalkeeper Dida had to receive medical attention after he was twice struck by objects thrown from the crowd.

Milan lost only one league game during the campaign and also has earned the most points in a season since three points for a win was introduced in 1994.

Although a draw would probably have led to Carlo Ancelotti's first scudetto as a coach after his Champions League triumph last season, Milan's positive approach showed it wanted to wrap things up in front of a capacity San Siro crowd.

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"This was the best way to win the title - against Roma at the San Siro," Milan's Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf said.

The home crowd erupted with joy at the referee's final whistle as Ancelotti celebrated a second major trophy in two full seasons.

"Roma had a great season and it was right that it should come down to this game."

Milan captain Paolo Maldini and defender Alessandro Costacurta set club records with their seventh scudetto.

In Spain, Valencia closed in on its second Spanish title in three seasons after it opened a four-point gap at the top of the standings, thanks to an emphatic 2-0 win at home to Real Betis.

With three games to go, Rafa Benitez's side leads the table on 74 points, followed by champion Real Madrid, which slumped to its second successive defeat on Saturday when it lost 2-0 at Deportivo Coruna, on 70. Third-placed Barcelona is a point behind Real on 69 after it stretched its unbeaten run to 17 games, coming from a goal down to claim a 4-1 win over struggling neighbour Espanyol.

Raul Tamudo put the visitors ahead, but Ronaldinho produced yet another virtuoso display to help steer his side to victory.

In Scotland, Dunfermline Athletic recorded a morale boosting 2-1 Premier League win at Celtic three weeks before facing the newly crowned champion in the Scottish Cup final.

Barry Nicholson's 28th-minute opener and a 57th-minute strike from Gary Dempsey earned Dunfermline its first win at Celtic Park since 1997.

"We've not played well today, but it's about what you do over the season and we've won the title in 32 games," said Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, whose side was presented with its 39th championship trophy at the end of the match.

"The players are disappointed at losing today, but they've been fantastic for us."